Flushing mechanism.



J. A. VOGEL. FLUSHING MECHANISM.

A'PPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, I915- Lfi fifi Patented D00. 4, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- I UNITE ATE PATENT @FFliCE.

aosnrn A. voGEL, or WILMINGTON. DELAWARE.

FLUSHING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Application filed June 22, 1915. Serial No. 35,679.

To all whom it may concern: 7

1 Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. VoGnL, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVilmingtomin the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flushing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in flushing mechanism of the after-flush type wherein the flushing mechanism is operatively controlled by the pressure of the closet seat, and particularly to that class of flushing mechanism of the stated type in which valves control 7 the flow of water from the supply pipe to a closed tank wherein the contained air is compressed, and from thence to the hopper or bowl for the flushing action.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a flushing mechanism in which the valvesare arranged within a casing to'which easy accessis afforded, and in which the valve mechanism as a whole is so mounted as to permit of its ready and convenient removal for cleaning, repairs and renewal of; parts as occasion requires in service.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flushing mechanism which is simple of construction, reliable and efficient in action, comparatively inexpensive of production and installation, composed of comparatively few parts, and devoid of complex stutfingelements or other parts easily subject to wear or liable to clog or get out of order.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a bowl and associated parts of the flushing .mechanism, showing the seat as normally arranged to dispose the valve mechanism for a slightly modified construction of valve mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing another slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, 1 designates a bowl of any ordinary or preferred construction, which is provided with an inlet 2 for the flow of the flush water thereto, with which inlet connects the discharge outlet 3 of a valve casing 4:. This casing is provided in its bottom portion with an outlet port 5 and a depending portion or chamber 6 from which the discharge outlet 3 projects. A rock shaft 7 extends through and is journaled in the side walls of said chamber 6, and to the projecting ends of this shaft are attached the arms 8 of a forked bracket or yoke 9 which is suitably secured to the vertically movable seat 10 of the bowl. I

The valve casing, as shown, extends longitudinally in direction parallel with the axis of the bowl and is arranged above and in rear of the upper rear portion of the bowl. At its forward end the casing is open and internally threaded, as shown at 11, to receive the inner portion of an externally threaded retaining tube 12, to the outer end of which is attached an internally threaded cap 13 which closes the forward end of the casing.

The rear end of the valve casing is also open and is externally threaded to receive a coupling member 14:, connecting the same with the forward section 15 of an admission and discharge pipe, the rear section 16 of which is connected with the said front sec tion 15 by a threaded collar or sleeve 17. The section 16 of the said admission and discharge pipe is connected at its rear end with the horizontal portion of a union 18 having a vertical portion receiving a tube or pipe 19 communicating with the bottom of a closed or air-tight storage tank 20. Washers or gaskets 21 and 22 are respectively provided between the meeting surfaces of the casing and cap 13 and casing and plpe section 15 to form water-tight joints.

At its rear the union 18 is formed with a threaded aperture 23 to receive a nipple 24 into which is threaded the delivery end'of a water supply pipe 25. Into this nipple is also threaded the inlet end of a feed pipe or by-pass pipe 26 which extends through the union and a suitable distance into the front section 15 of the admission and discharge pipe. This feed pipe or by-pass pipe is of less diameter than the admission and discharge pipe and terminates at its forward. end in a discharge fitting 27 provided with arvalve seat, the arrangement being such that the water admitted from the supply .pipe 25 flows to the tank 20 indirectly through the pipe 26, pipe 16 and union 18, the How continuing when the valve mechanism is in supply position to replenish the tank until the tank is filled to a suliicieut degree to compress the air therein so that the pressure behind the water in the tank will equal-the pressure of the water in the supply pipe, whereupon the supply of water to the tank will be automatically arrested.

I Fixed to the rock shaft 7 within the chamber 6 is a valve controlling arm 29 havinga bifurcated or forked upper end projecting upwardly through the port 5 into the valve chamber and embracing a valve stem 30. The valve stem 30 is slidable longitudinally in the casing and through a cage 31 disposed therein, and non-rotatably fitted upon the forward end of the stem is a sleeve 32 pro vided at its rear end with an abutment flange 33 engaged by the arm 29 and at its forward end with a milled gripping flange 34, the stem being threaded to receive a wing nut 35 by which the sleeve is held from displacement. The stem and sleeve are preferably shouldered interiorly and provided with angular surfaces to hold the sleeve from rotation and to limit its sliding movement when applied, said surfaces permitting of the ready withdrawal of the sleeve, however, when the nut 35 is detached.

The valve stem carries a flush valve 36 and an admission and feed valve 37. The valve 36 is movable in a rear tubular extension of the cage 31 and is movable forwardly into engagement with a seat 38 formed upon the cage, within which said valve is arranged. The seat portion of the cage is provided with an abutment flange 39 to engage an abutment flange 40 on the valve casing, a washer or gasket 41 being clamped between said flanges to provide a tight joint,

by which the flow of water around the rear portion of the cage and the valve casing 1s prevented and the water caused to flow through the cage during the flushing action,

6., when the flush valve is open. The forward end of the cage is closed by a wall 42 which is imperforate except for an opening through which the sleeve 32 extends and whereby the forward end of the valve stem is guided and supported, the rear end of said stem being movable through a flanged guide member or plate 13 which seats within an opening 4% at the rear end of the cage 31. The cage 31 is apertured or provided with ports in rear of the valve seat 38 and .between'said valve seat and the guide plate 43, so that when the flush valve 36 is unseated water may flow from the tank 20 through the valve casing and to the bowl for-the flushing action. 7 V

The valve 37 is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with thervalve seat closed and the flush valve 36. open, as shown in Fig. 2, by the action of a coiled expansion spring surrounding the stem between the guide 43 and a washer i6 disposed adjacent to said valve 37, and said spring also operates, by exerting rearward pressure on the arm 29 through the flan e 33, to maintain the rock shaft 7 in a determined normal position, by which the seat 10 is held in an elevated position above the bowl, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The spring l5 furthermore holds the movable guide plate 43 seatediin the opening 44. y

In the operation of the apparatus. the spring 45 serves to'hold the seat in the elevated position described, the flush valve 36 open and the admission or feed valve 37 closed, bywhich open communication is established between the bowl and tank 20. Assuming that the tank has been previously filled and emptied, it will be understood that the valve 37 will be maintained in closed position to cut off the supply of water to the tank until the seat 10 is depressed. The depression of the seat, in rockingthe shaft 7, will swing the arm 29 forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, thereby moving the valve 36 to closed position and the valve 37 to open position for the flow of water from the supply pipe 25 to the tank 20. The water will thereupon feed from the service pipe to the tank until the air contained within the tank is compressed to a working pressure equal to that of the water service pressure, at which time the supply of water to the tank will be arrested or cut off by the balancing pressures thus established, unless a flush'is effected by the elevation of the seat before the tank is V parts will then remain in the position stated, with the valve 36 open and the valve 37 closed, until the seat is again depressed to set the valve mechanism for the succeeding flushing action.

An important advantage of my invention resides in the fact that little or no packing or washers of a kind liable to cause leakage by wear or deterioration are employed, and that the valves and their seats are subjected to the washing action of the water, by which they are kept clear of all particles of matter contained in the water and liable to interfere with the perfect seating of the valves and the efficiency of action of the flushing mechanism. Another advantage of the invention is that the parts of the valve mechanism are easily and freely accessible for cleaning, repairs and renewal of parts, since by simply swinging the seat upward to a position in which the bracket or yoke 9 lies above the front of the valve casing the cap 13 may be removed, and, as in this operation the arm 29 will swing to a clear position down into the chamber 6,the valve stem,

7 valves and applied parts may be withdrawn as a unit from the casing and as readily and conveniently reapplied after the valves or parts have been cleaned or otherwise put in first class condition for efficient service. Also it will be apparent that the valve casing may be readily and conveniently de tached with the valves in dismantling the flushing mechanism and as readily and easily applied in installing the apparatus.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the tank 20 is arranged at'a point in rear of the valve mechanism and connected therewith by the pipe 15-16, which may pass through an intervening wall or shield, but in some instances it may be desired to mount the tank directly upon or above the valve casing. In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 6 such .a modified arrangement of the tank is contemplated, the valve casing being provided at its rear end with a seat 27 for the valve 37 which is arranged within the casing, and the casing being provided at its top with an inlet 47 to receive an admission and discharge pipe 48 which connects with the bottom of the tank 20, which in this instance may be supported by the pipe 48 from the valve casing or be supported immediately above the valve casing in any preferred manner.

In Fig. 7 I have shown another modified form of my invention in which the pipe 26 is dispensed with and the valve stem elongated so as to extend into the union 18', which is provided with an inlet connection in the form of a nipple 23 for connection with the water supply pipe 25, said nipple having a seat 27 against which the admission or feedvalve 87 is adapted to close to cut off the flow of water from said supply tion of a water supply pipe, a pressure tank,

a bowl, a valve casing disposed horizontally in proximity to and communicating with the upper rear portion of the bowl, said valve casing having a detachable closure at its forward end, a valve within said casing for controlling communication between the supply pipe and tank and between the tank and bowl, a vertically movable seat, and a connection' between the seat and valve arranged within the casing in the path of movement of the valve and operative upon the depression of the seat to adjust the valve for a flushing action, said seat and connection being adjustable to positions to move said connection out of the path of movement of the valve so as to permit removal of said detachable closure and access to or removal of the valve from the valve casing.

2. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a water supply pipe, a pressure tank, a bowl, a valve casing disposed horizontally in proximity to and communicating with the upper rear portion of the bowl, said valve casing having a detachable closure at its forward end, a valve within said casing for controlling communication between the supply pipe and tank and between the tank and bowl, a vertically movable seat, a rock shaft, an actuating arm carried by the rock shaft and normally arranged in the path of movement of the valve for shifting the valve for a flushing action, said vertically movable seat having an operating connection with the shaft, said seat being movable upwardly to a position to dispose said operating connection out of alinement with the valve casing and said actuating arm out of engagement with the valve, whereby said closure may be detached and the valve released and withdrawn through the open forward end of the casing.

3. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a water supply pipe, a pressure tank, a bowl, a valve casing arranged horizontally above the upper rear portion of the bowl and having a discharge connection communicating therewith and provided with a pocket or recess, said valve casing being also open and provided with a detachable closure at its forward end, a reciprocating valve in said casing movable in opposite directions to control communication between the supply pipe and tank and the tank and bowl, re

spectively, said valve being normally and These and other modifications automatically maintained in position to open communication between the pipe and tank and close communication between the tank and bowl, a rock shaft within the discharge connection, an actuating arm carried by said shaft for transmitting flushing motion to the valve when moved in one direction and adapted to move out of the way of the valve and into said recess when adjusted in the opposite direction, and a seat for actuating the shaft to transmit operating motion to said arm and movable to a position clear of the valve casing to permit detachable closure and to move said arm out of engagement with the valve and into said pocket or recess.

4:. In a flushing apparatus, the combina tion of a water supply pipe, a pressure tank, a bowl, a valve casing arranged horizontally above the upper rear portion of the bowl and having an outlet communicating therewith, said casing being open and provided with a detachable closure at its forward end, a reciprocating duplex valve arranged within the casing and movable in opposite directions to control communication between the supply pipe and tank and the tank and valve casing respectively, means for normally holding the valve in position to close communication between the pipe and tank and establish communication between the tank and bowl, a rock shaft journaled upon the outlet connection and extending across the outlet passage, an arm carried by said shaft and projecting into the casing for engagement with the valve to shift the same in one direction for opening communication between the pipe and tank and closing communication between the tank and bowl, said arm being movable on a reverse motion of the shaft out of engagement with the valve and downwardly into said outlet, a vertically'movable seat, and an actuating connection between the seat and rock shaft, said seat being movable to an abnormal position to adjust said connection out of the way of the detachable closure and to shift said arm into said outlet to permit of the removal of said closure and withdrawal of the valve from the valve casing.

5. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a water supply pipe, a pressuretank, a bowl, a valve casing arranged horizontally above the upper rear portion of the bowl and having an outlet communicating therewith, said casing being open and provided with a detachable closure at its forward end, a reciprocating duplex valve arranged within the casing and movable in opposite directions to control communication between the supply pipe and tank and the tank and valve respectively, means for normally holding the valve in position to establish communication between the pipe and tank and close communication between the tank and, bowl,

removal of said a horizontal transverse rock shaft journaled in and extending through said outlet, an arm upon said shaft within the outlet movable in the actuating direction of, motion of said shaft to engage and shift the Valve for a flushing action and movable on the reverse motion of said shaft downwardly into said outlet and out of engagement with the valve, a vertically movable seat movable in opposite directions to rotate the shaft :in the directions stated, and a yoke connecting said seat with the ends of the rock shaft and adapted to clear the detachable closure when the seat is moved upwardly from its normal position. a

6. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a water supply pipe, a pressure tank, a bowl, a casing aranged horizontally above and having an outlet communicating with the upper rear portion of the bowl, said casing being provided. with a detachable closure at its forward end, a valve cage within said casing, said cage being independent of said detachable closure and pro vided with a valve seat in the line of communication between the tank and outlet, said cage being detachably secured within the casing, a reciprocating duplex valve within the casing and having a valve meinber to con-trol'the influx of water from the supply pipe and a valve member to engage said seat andcontrol the flow of -water from the tank to the bowl, a spring for normally maintaining the valve so asto-hold the firstnamed valve member closed and the secondnamed valve member open, a vertically movable seat, and a connection between the seat and valve normally arranged in the path of movement of the valve for shifting the valve upon the depressionof the seat to reverse the position of said valve members, said seat being movable'upwardly from a normal position to move said connection out of the path of movement of the valve and permit free removal of the detachableclosure, cage and valve. r

7. In a flushingapparatus, the combination of a water supply pipe, a pressure tank, a bowl, a valve casing disposed horizontally in proximity to and having an outlet communicating with the upper rear portion of the bowl, said casing being provided'with a detachable closure at its forward 'end, a perforate cage detachably secured within the casing, said cage being provided with a port for establishing communication between the tank and bowl, a forward guide member and a detachable rear guide member, a reciprocating valve extendingthrough the cage and movable in said guide members, said valve having valve members to respectively control the influx of water from the supply pipe and to control the said port in he cage, a spring for holding said detachable guide member in position and m intaining the valve in position to close communication between the tank and bowl and open communication between the pipe and tank, a rock shaft, a seat connected with the rock shaft, and an arm actuated by the shaft and engaging the valve, said arm beingmovable on a predetermined motion of the seat to release the valve to permit the cage and valve to be withdrawn upon the detachment of said detachable closure.

8. In a flushing apparatus, a bowl, a valve casing arranged horizontally above and in proximity to the upper rear portion of the bowl and having abottom outflow connection communicating therewith, said casing having an opening at its forward end, a

duplex valve within said casing, said valve being movable in opposlte dlrections to control communlcation'between a supply pipe and a pressure tank and between the pressure tank and the bowl, a detachable closure for the forward end of the casing, a de pressible seat, an operative connection between the said seat and the valve for controlling the latter, said connection extending into the valve casing and being engaged with the valve during normal movements of the seat, but releasable upon abnormal raising of the seat so that upon a predetermined upward movement of the seat the connection will be moved out of engagement with the valve and the seat and connection adjusted fully clear of said detachable closure to permit removal of the same.

9. In a flushing apparatus, a bowl, a valve casing arranged horizontally in proximity to the upper rear portion of the bowl, and having a bottom outlet communicating therewith, said casing having an opening at its forward end, a detachable closure for said open forward end of the casing, a re ciprocating valve in said casing movable in opposite directions to control communication between a supply pipe and pressure tank and between the pressure tank and the bowl, a horizontal transverse rock shaft journaled upon and extending through said outlet connection, a depressible seat, a connection between the seat and rock shaft for actuating the latter, and an arm carried by the shaft and releasably engaging the valve, said arm being movable out of engagement with the valve when the seat is moved upward to a predetermined position to dispose said seat and connection between the same and the rock shaft clear of said detachable closure to permit free removal of the same.

10. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a water supply pipe, a pressure tank, a bowl, a valve casing communicating with the rear portion of the bowl and having a detachable closure at the forward end thereof, a reciprocating duplex valve device within said ca sing accessible when said closure is removed, said valve device being movable in one direction to open communication between the tank and bowl and close communication between the tank and supply pipe and in the opposite direction to open communication between the supply pipe and tank and close communication between the tank and bowl, a spring acting upon said valve device to normally maintain it in one of said positions, a rock shaft, a movable seat for actuating said shaft, and a rocker arm upon the shaft for shifting the valve device in the opposite direction against the resistance of the spring, said rocker arm being movable to an inoperative position to permit withdrawal of the valve device from the casing.

11. In a flushing apparatus, the combination, with a water supply pipe, a pressure tank, and a bowl, of a valve casing arranged horizontally above and in rear of the bowl and having an outlet in its bottom communicating with the upper rear portion of the bowl, said casing being provided at its forward end with a detachable closure, a duplex valve movable in opposite directions within said casing to control communication between the supply pipe and tank and between the tank and bowl, a valve operating member within the casing, a seat pivotally supported by the valve casing clear of the bowl and an operative connection between the seat and the valve operating memher for actuating and controlling the valve durin normal movements of the seat and whereby the valve operating member, by lifting the seat to an abnormal position clear of the detachable closure, will be moved out of the path of the valve to permit removal of the valve from the valve casing upon the detachment of said detachable closure.

12. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a water supply pipe, a pressure tank, and a bowl, of a valve casing arranged horizontally above the upper rear portion of the bowl, said casing having a detachable closure at its forward end, and an outlet at its base communicating with the bowl, a valve cage independent of said closure and arranged within the valve casing, a duplex valve insertible and removable with said cage upon the detachment of said detachable closure, said valve being movable in opposite directions to control communication between the supply pipe and tank and tank and bowl respectively, a valve operating member arranged within the easing and movable in one direction to transmit flush motion to the valve and in the opposite direction to lie clear of the valve and valve casing to permit free insertion or removal thereof, and a seat depressible to transmit valve flushing motion to said member and movable upwardly to an abnormal position to shift the said member to an inoperative position clear of the valve cage and valve.

13. In a flushing apparatus, a flush valve mechanism comprising a horizontal casing having a rear inlet and a bottom outlet and open at the front thereof, said casing also being provided with an internal shoulder, a skeleton cage disposed Within said casing and bearing at one end against the said shoulder, a retaining member detachably connected with the forward end of the casing and clamping said cage against said shoulder, a detachable closure for the for Ward end of the casing engaging said retaining member, a duplex valve longitudinally movable Within the casing and removable therefrom with the cage upon the disconnection of said retaining member and closure, a depressible seat, and an element actuated by the seat and extending into the casing and cage and engaging the valve, said element being movable out of engagement With the valve and cage upon a predetermined elevation of the seat to permit of the Withdrawal of the Valve and cage from the casing.

l i. In a flushing apparatus, a flush valve mechanism comprising a horizontal casing having a rear inlet, and a bottom outlet and open at the forward end thereof, said casing being provided with an internal shoulder, a skeleton cage arranged Within the casing and bearing against said shoulder, a retaining tube detachably connected With the forward end of the casing and clamping said cage against said shoulder, a detachable closure for the forward end of the casing engaging said tube, a duplex valve arranged Within the casing and cage and including a stem having an abutment, said valve and cage being removable longitudinally from the casing when the closure and retaining tube are detached, a rocker arm pivotally mounted Within the outlet and mounted to swing into and out of engagement 'withsaid abutment, and a vertically movable seat operatively connected With said rocker arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOSEPH A. VOGEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. G. 

